What are the various triathlon distances? | HowStuffWorks What are the various triathlon distances? Ty Allison/Photographer's Choice/ Getty Images Even if you're not a sports fanatic, triathlons are compelling to watch. Just the idea that someone has the fortitude to swim, bike and run for dozens -- sometimes hundreds -- of miles is fascinating . So, what are the various triathlon distances? The length of a triathlon may vary, but there are four basic lengths: The most common triathlon distance follows international Olympic guidelines: A swim of 0.93 miles (1.5 kilometers), a bicycle route of 24.8 miles (40 kilometers) and a run of 6.2 miles (10 kilometers). An Ironman Triathlon, perhaps the event's most famous race, is a 2.4-mile (3.9-kilometer) swim, a 112-mile (180-kilometer) bike ride and a 26.2-mile (42.2-kilometer) marathon.

A Half Ironman is comprised of a swim/bike/run of 1.2 miles (1.93 kilometers), 56 miles (90 kilometers) and 13 miles (21 kilometers), respectively. Even "sprint," or mini-triathlons, are still arduous, requiring a 0.5-mile (0.8-kilometer) swim, 15-mile (24-kilometer) bike ride and 3-mile (5-kilometer) run. Most triathlons follow a traditional pattern of swimming, biking and then running, but there are several adaptations designed to make it more feasible for athletes of all ages and fitness levels to compete. For example, an aquathon combines running and swimming, while a duathlon follows a run/bike/run sequence. Triathlons have even become a cold-weather sport that features running, mountain biking and cross-country skiing. And, triathlons have gone off-road. In some parts of the country, competitors swim, mountain bike and trail run to the finish line [source: USA Triathlon ]. Up Next What are average triathlon times?

The idea for a multisport race grew out of an informal cross-training exercise started by endurance runners in San Diego's Mission Bay area. The first recorded triathlon took place there in 1974; a starting line fronted Mission Bay, and a 500-yard swim through the bay was followed by a 5-mile bicycle and 2.8-mile foot race. Four years later, John Collins -- who'd been a competitor in the event -- combined three of Hawaii's longstanding endurance events into a single triathlon-style competition (dubbed Ironman) that soon captured the attention of sportscasters and television viewers alike [source: USA Triathlon ]. The Ironman was a fledgling media darling that came into its own in 1982 as ABC's Wide World of Sports broadcast images of Julie Moss, a female competitor, crawling to the race's finish line [source: Mackinnon ]. It was the last year athletes could compete without prequalifying for the event and Moss, an amateur athlete, dug deep to complete the grueling journey -- it made for fascinating television.

To compete in the Ironman World Championship today, entrants must earn a top spot in one of 50 qualifying races across the country leading up to the annual event [source: Ironman ]. The same is true for other elite races, including those sanctioned by the Olympic sports governing body, but some offer age-group and amateur divisions for the soft-core athlete. Fortunately, many local and regional races don't have a qualifying system, encouraging anyone who'd like to give it a try. Although the Ironman Triathlon is arguably the multisport discipline's most recognizable event, thousands of triathlons of varying distances take place each year around the globe, including shorter youth-focused events and "ultra" competitions where competitors log 100-plus miles [source: USA Triathlon ]. 1 How To Prepare For A Sprint & Olympic Distance Triathlon | IronMate How To Prepare For A Sprint & Olympic Distance Triathlon SWIM For pool swim triathlons you do NOT need to be able to swim the total distance without stopping as you can rest at the shallow end.

For open water swimming in lakes rivers sea etc where you cannot stand up you need to be able to swim up to 10% further in training so you can feel confident during the triathlon. Remember you may not swim in a straight line in open water hence the need to cover at least the race distance in training. During the cycle section you can coast or free wheel if tired and you can walk during the run section but you need to stay afloat during the swim! Learn to float on your back during training, this gives you confidence this is a great way to relax take a breath clean your googles then continue when swimming in open water. BIKE For Sprint & Olympic distance events regular 10 & 25-mile time trials efforts against the clock as hard as you can go will reap rewards in the 8 weeks before an important event. A short 5-15 minute easy run afterwards will improve your feel for the run section. Training with people who are faster will also help but not more than once a week.

Avoid the mistake of one session with a faster swimmer one session with a faster cyclist and run session with a faster runner until you have good technique and built up endurance in each individual discipline RUN Even a 5 minute run straight after a bike ride and help you get use to overcoming "Dead Leg Syndrome" the sensation you feel after cycling as though you do not own your own legs Training with people who are faster will also help but only once a week or complete in your own 5km time trial agaainst the clock or local 5km run race. I find running out 2.5 km and turing back and trying to come back quicker is a great personal motivator. FOOD Tips on your evening meal prior to race day Avoid any red meat the night before your triathlon because it can take up to 18 hours to fully be digested. Best to eat pasta and white meats like chicken and fish, which are easier to digest. On race morning you will then be able to eat your breakfast without too much problem. Try and eat your last main meal before 7pm the night before so you can fully digest it for the next morning.

The night before avoids drinking alcohol because it is high in empty calories; it boosts your appetite, it can also reduce your body's efficiency to burn fat. Alcohol will affect your body’s ability to keep cool during the triathlon. You could wake up on race morning already dehydrated from even small amounts of alcohol and this will impair your performance. Alcohol can stay in your system for more than 36 hours; if you have to drink alcohol reduce the chances of dehydration by drinking at least 500ml of water before you go to bed. Drinking just plain water in the 2-3 days before your event can flush away vital minerals and salts and you could get cramp early in the event. To avoid this drink 50/50 fruit juice/water or electrolyte drinks, these are a much better choice than plain water. Snack on fruits in the 2 days before and avoid going hungry. Race Morning. Have breakfast 2-4 hours before Triathlon. It is normal to not feel hungry on race morning if you feel full on race morning just snack small amounts of fruit apples, bananas or energy bars up to 90 minutes before you are due to start. Preferred pre race breakfast meal.

Toast butter with jam or honey (carbohydrate small amount of fat and simple sugars) Banana for carbohydrate and potassium to help prevent cramping. Cereal with milk (i.e. porridge slow releasing energy with milk for protein) Orange Juice with water 50/50. Have a spare snack and extra drink should the start be delayed. PREPARATION. Be prepared take your favourite bars out of their packet and stick them on to your bike frame. This will remind you to eat regularly. Some experienced triathletes actually cut them up into bite size portions then stick them on the frame and eat them at regular intervals. You can set the alarm on your watch to go off every 15-20 minutes to remind you to eat and drink. This will give you a constant steady intake of calories at regular intervals. Use what energy bars you normally have and practised with in training. Take an extra bar you may drop some or need a few extra calories due to working hard or the conditions may be cold.

Prepare for 4 seasons in one day on the bike where the wind chill is greatest, Freezing cold hot sunny windy Have fun Don't forget the sun block before the swim neck legs & arms no matter if it looks like raining it’s a long day. Overcast days are often the days when athletes get sunburnt due to forgetting to protect themselves. REGISTRATION. Sounds simple but read Triathlon race details before the day, no point arriving early and queuing up only to find you need your cycle helmet to register, which you have left in the car. Take a drink to register if the queue line is long to get your race number etc, you can stay hydrated and calm, some athletes find sipping slowly while waiting keeps you relaxed. Elite Triathletes think about every possible part of the Triathlon. The sounds created by the athletes in the swim, cycling and running. The call from marshals to call out your number etc etc. Also the smell of rubber Wetsuit, Vaseline, Muddy water, Chlorine, Bike oil, warm up balm Carbohydrate drinks all get the athlete focused for the race. RUN To gain late Season Speed or last minute speed if you have a race only 4 weeks away.

Try in the next few weeks half your normal intervals and make them harder, taking the time taken to complete the interval as rest. Take shorter recoveries and split the session into half with a longer main recovery half way thru. Instead of 10 x 400 metres running run 20 x 200 metres. 10x 200 metres then run 600 metres jog recovery before starting the next 10. Don't forget a good warm up and warm down remembering to drink a carbohydrate drink during and after the main set before your warm down. Remember to have an easy few days before to be rested and able to make these efforts fast. Also take an active easy recovery day the next day for that all-important recovery to happen. Or have you ever tried half your speed work in the morning and half in the evening, great for keeping good form, remember to warm up well for the AM session especially if you are not use to doing harder training first thing. Protection from the suns rays on race day. TRANSITION AREA A bright coloured towel laid on the ground below your bike helps you find your bike in the transition area.

Try to remember where your bike is in the transition area by solid fixtures like a wall, a sign, a banner etc. The bright yellow coloured bike next to yours could be gone by the time you arrive back. Your own bright towel helps you find your correct place when you return from the cycle section. Lay helmet upside down or hanging from bike so it is easy to get on. Shoes laid out for easy access to get into, save minutes by using either camping toggles or elastic shoelaces rather than tying them up. If you are wearing socks roll them down to the ankle to help get them on easier, wet feet can make you take 4 times as long to put them on. The Triathlon. 15-10 minutes before you need to drink 330ml of either plain water or a weak carbohydrate or electrolyte solution (1-3%) Sip this drink just before the triathlon, your kidneys will almost shut down while you compete, so you should have no need to go to the toilet and you can then use this fluid in the Triathlon. Swim If you are unable to warm up for the swim section do arm swings 10 of each forward and backward.

10 arm shrugs and 10 punches trying to avoid hitting anyone or anything. If you do not warm up for the swim you can take the whole triathlon to get going. Swim goggles will leak for the following reasons. If you tighten them up just before the start too tight, they may have never leaked before. Making them too tight is no extra guarantee that they will be water tight, being too tight can change the way they fit on your face, which will result in allowing water to get inside them. If you put goggles onto a wet face this can cause them to not seal properly as your skin needs to be dry to cause proper suction and also overlapping your goggles over the swim hat stops a proper seal. Bike Cycle in an easy gear high cadence (90-100rpm) when you start the cycle this allows the blood to be diverted from your swimming muscles to your cycling legs. Wait 2-4 minutes after starting the bike section before drinking because as soon as anything enters your stomach blood is diverted from your much-needed working muscles in your legs.

Allow yourself time to get use to cycling before drinking Being in an easy gear (high cadence) keeps the chain at full stretch and should stop the chain from coming off when you run with bike out of the transition area and start cycling. For events lasting 60-120 minutes you need to drink 600-1000ml. It is much easier to drink on the bike. Plain water is harder to absorb so it is much better to have a carbohydrate or electrolyte drink for fast absorption even a tiny amount can help with performance rather than plain water. Avoid drinking as you approach a hill. When climbing hills aim for more than 60 rpm that is more than one per second if you do not have a cadence sensor on your bike. Spin your legs on down hill sections to keep the legs from seizing up, this will help you for climbing the next hill and running afterwards. In the last 5 minutes of the bike section before the run increase your cadence by 10rpm to reduce the likelihood of dead leg syndrome.

Run Start the run with a short shuffle stride, if you try and over stride with tight hamstrings caused by the cycle leg your muscles will almost certainly remain short for the whole duration of this sprint distance triathlon. Your legs will be tired from the run so you will need to use your arms to keep going. Short arm movements help with shuffle strides while longer backward and forward movements improve your stride length. Anything you drink in the last 10 minutes of the run will generally not be absorbed until you cross the finish line. Save time by preparation. Before the start do these few little tricks to save time. Walk from swim to your racked bike before the start and recall where it is, pace yourself from where your bike is to the bike exit. Know where you enter the transition area after the bike and where the run exit is. You will be surprised how many people spend hours training to go fast only to lose minutes going the wrong way on race day. To make events safer with one-way traffic and stop people bumping into one another often there can be 4 different places for entry and exit. Use elastic shoelaces or quick release camping toggles much quicker than doing up shoelaces can save 30 seconds a shoe with wet hands from the swim.

One-piece tri suit quick drying to swim bike and run. Number elasticised belt and pin number on much quicker than putting on a top when you are wet. Mistakes to avoid. Do not wear anything different that you have not tried before in training. Do not change your position on your bike in the last 7 days before the triathlon because your body will not have time to adjust to the changes. Preparing sports drink with twice the strength hoping this will make up for lack of training.

Super Sprint Triathlon (Pool) distance Swim 400m Bike 20km Run 5km = 25.4km or Swim = 0.25 mile Run = 3.1 miles Total distance Miles = 15.85 miles Olympic distance Swim 1.5km Bike 40km Run 10km = 51.5km or Swim = 0.93 mile Race nutrition for Sprint and Olympic distance triathlons Race nutrition for Sprint and Olympic distance triathlons Monday, 28 February 2011 20:46 Written by Matt Fisher Something that regularly occupies the minds of novice triathletes as they gear up for their early races (and I should know, it wasn't that long ago that I was one myself!) is what to do with regards to pre and in-race nutrition. So I thought I'd take a few moments to share my experiences, what has and hasn't worked for me. But first, let’s get the caveats out of the way.

The following advice is aimed squarely at shorter distance races – if you’re looking at a half or full Ironman you need specialist advice tailored to you (taking into account your body weight, fat mass, metabolic rate etc). But if you’re gearing up for a Sprint or Olympic distance race, the following should stand you in good stead! The Basics For a triathlon (of any length), your fuel comes from a mix of fat and glycogen reserves stored in the body. Typically, your body will burn the easy-access and fast-acting glycogen in preference to your body fat stores (shame, eh?!). Studies generally concur that the body typically has enough glycogen in the body to last for around 90 minutes without refuelling. So assuming you think you can complete your triathlon in around this time then there’s potentially no need to bother with nutrition during the race itself. This may well be the most appropriate approach for a sprint distance triathlon – more on this in a minute. However, for Olympic distance races, even the Pros will take on some form of nutrition during the race.

Sprint distance races OK, so we’ve established that assuming your race is going to be done in around 90 minutes, you could opt not to fuel during the event itself. However, you should be looking to take on carbs in the lead up to the race. There’s contradictory advice and thoughts on whether the concept of ‘carb loading’ in the days leading up to a race works or not. For me, I’d say there’s no harm in having good quality carbs (oats, whole wheats etc) in the 24 hours prior to a race. Some people seem to rate brown rice over pasta or potatoes, but I think it’s really down to personal preference. However, on race day itself you can follow these generally rules. 1. Have porridge or a good slow-burn carb breakfast three hours before the event 2. Sip on a carb drink for the hours before the race – probably stopping about 30-45 minutes before the start time and taking care not to over-fill your bladder! 3. For an extra energy hit, take a carb gel around 10-15 minutes before the race start (with water if necessary) And then that’s it!

You shouldn’t need any further fuel during the race. Now note I say ‘fuel’…! There’s a difference between ‘fuel’ and ‘hydration’. During the summer months when you are likely to sweat more you may well want to have the comfort of a drink on the bike. The same also applies if you think the bike leg (typically 20km in a sprint race) is likely to take you an hour or more. You may also want to opt for a runner's bottle for the last leg if you're looking at more than 30 mins for the 5km run. You can fill both the bike and run bottles with a carb solution, but actually I’d argue that it’s the electrolytes (salts and minerals) that really deliver the benefits and the main aim is to prevent you becoming dehydrated. However, be careful not to guzzle on the bike – it’s easy to come off the cycle not realising how much liquid you’ve taken on, which will then slosh around your guts on the run – not a nice feeling! Olympic distance races Unless you’re super-human, you’re not going to complete an Olympic / Standard distance tri in less than about 1hr 45mins.

So you’re going to need some fuel. The advice here varies a little more that with sprints, due to the longer distance meaning ther is likely to be a greater difference between the faster and slower competitors. I’d say that the same pre-race nutrition advice applies – although I’d definitely recommend taking a gel 10-15 minutes before the race itself – as you’re probably looking at a 30min-plus swim and then need to settle onto the bike before your next opportunity to take on carbs. The bike leg is the most obvious place to take on fuel during the race itself – usually in a mix of liquid and gel form. On a road bike, you’ll be perfectly ok with a normal frame mounted bottle which you can fill with a good quality carb/electrolyte mix. If you’re riding a TT bike with aerobars however, the 'hand held' bottles can be tricky to use, unless you want to sacrifice your aero position. So most people seem to opt for one of two kinds of aero bottle.

In 2010, I used the Profile Design aero bottle which sits between the aero bars and thus you can keep your hands on the aero bars while taking a sip from the bottle. Another advantage of the Profile-style bottle is that it can be refilled on the move in longer races. However, there are a couple of downsides too – the liquid sloshes around a lot and can spill out of the bottle quite easily, leaving you covered in sticky carb drink! The drinking straw is also quite stiff and you really don’t want it in your mouth when you hit a bump/pothole in the road! For 2011, I’m going to be giving the Inviscid Design Speedfil bottle a try – an aero-shaped bottle that sits on the frame with a long drinking tube that can be positioned between the bars for ‘hands free’ drinking. I’ll write up a review on this once I’ve given it a few tries. Whichever type of bottle you go for – remember again NOT to guzzle! It’s much better to tip regular small sips that won’t leave you bloated and will be better absorbed by the body.

Assuming you’ve got a 10km run to do after the bike, T2 still means you’ve got at least another 40 minutes of racing ahead of you. As such, many triathletes opt to take an additional gel around 10 minutes before the end of the bike leg (remember it takes around 15 minutes for the gel to get absorbed and deliver any benefit). Another benefit to taking the gel on the bike is that your body is more stable and thus the gel is easier to digest. Onto the run and you’ll need to decide whether to take a bottle with you or rely on the water that is on offer (I can’t think of any standard distance triathlons where there are no water stations). Runner’s bottles come in all shapes and sizes, so it’s possible to find something to suit your needs – again filled with just water, an electrolyte solution or a carb mix. I personally like the ‘comfort’ of having a drink on hand for the 10km, so I carry a very small gel bottle with me (containing a highly diluted gel) – but it’s really personal choice, plenty opt for just taking whatever water is on offer.

So there you go; it’s not highly scientific but follow the advice above and I’m pretty sure you won’t run out of fuel in your sprint or standard distance race (I can’t talk for aerobic fitness etc!). The main take-aways are: 1) don’t neglect pre-race fuelling and 2) don’t guzzle in-race drinks all in one go, sip them! Post Race Although it might be the furthest thing from your mind, it's no bad thing to get yourself some post-nutrition straight after the race as well! There are plenty of recovery drinks with a good mix of carbs and proteins available and they're usually pretty tasty too! :-) I hope that’s been helpful – and as always if you have a different point of view, just shout! Olympic Distance Triathlon - definition of Olympic Distance Triathlon by The Free Dictionary Olympic Distance Triathlon - definition of Olympic Distance Triathlon by The Free Dictionary Also found in: Medical , Encyclopedia , Wikipedia . tri·ath·lon (trī-ăth′lən, -lŏn′) n. An athletic contest in which participants compete without stopping in three successive events, usually long-distance swimming, bicycling, and running.

(traɪˈæθlɒn) n (Athletics (Track & Field)) an athletic contest in which each athlete competes in three different events: swimming, cycling, and running [C20: from tri- + Greek athlon contest] ˌtriˈathlete n (traɪˈæθ lɒn) n. 1. an athletic contest comprising three consecutive events, usu. swimming, bicycling, and distance running, and won by the contestant finishing the entire contest in the least time. 2. a women's track-and-field competition comprising the 100-meter dash, high jump, and shot put. [1970–75; tri - + ( dec ) athlon] triathlon an intense aerobic endurance competition, typically, in its longest form, consisting of a 2.4-mile ocean swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride, and a 26.2-mile marathon run, the winner being the one to finish all three events in the least time. triathlon [traɪˈæθlɒn] n → triathlon m inv Want to thank TFD for its existence?

Tell a friend about us , add a link to this page, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content . Link to this page: triathlete References in periodicals archive ? Over the next 10 months the Bahrain Road Runners will be organising a Sprint and Olympic Distance Triathlon and there will be two Half Ironman. TRIATHLON CHALLENGE The children completed a swim on an indoor swim-trainer, a bike on a turbo trainer, and a run on a treadmill, with each child spending two minutes on each activity, with a challenge laid down to see if between them, they could complete an Olympic distance triathlon. CCRNY winners take bow The Olympic distance triathlon, for those of you who are not familiar with the event, is a 1,500m (just under a mile) open-water swim, a 40km (nearly 25 miles) bike ride and a 10km (about six miles) run.

ATHLETICS: Helen's dream of clinching Games place 5 km swim in Qing Long Lake; a 40 km bike race through the villages of Fengtai to Qian Ling Mountain, the highest peak in Southwest Beijing; and a final 10 km run along stone paths, trails and bridges of Qing Long Lake Park, this all-new Olympic distance triathlon truly showcased the beauty, tradition and hospitality of China. Paralympian Prepares for Epic Cross-Country Cycling Journey STILL on a sporting theme, three agents from City Connections Realty (CCRNY) took part in the New York City Olympic Distance Triathlon to benefit Team OneFamily, a multisport program that helps raise funds for Israeli victims of terror. Still on a sporting theme, three agents from City Connections Realty (CCRNY) took part in the New York City Olympic Distance Triathlon to benefit Team OneFamily But rather than just wallowing in her own self-pity, she gives quirky anecdotes about how she reckons JK Rowling understands her, wishes she had a FMG (fairy mother godmother) and decides on a spur of a moment to train for an Olympic distance triathlon.

My First Olympic Distance Triathlon My First Olympic Distance Triathlon author : johnrunner comments : 6 Race report on the Chattanooga Waterfront Tri - Beginners Point of View. This was my first Olympic length triathlon and also the first time I had done a race with cycling shoes instead of cages. Scared. Confident. Nervous. Excited. These are some of the adjectives I can use to describe how I felt going into the event. The race was a first for me for a couple of reasons. One, it was my first Olympic length triathlon, and two, it was the first time I had done a race with cycling shoes and pedals instead of cage pedals. Luckily, I had the support of the 20 or so other members of the Peachtree Tri Club there to keep me going. The Swim (Time: 42:03) 1500 meters (actually 1560 meters, according to the website - 0.97 mile) seemed like a long way to swim. While I had done swims of this length in a pool, pool swimming really does not prepare you for an open water swim of this distance.

In a pool I had the lane markers to keep me going straight, and if for some reason I floundered, the pool was never more than a few feet deep. Not so when in open water. You have to take a sighting every now and then to be sure you are swimming on course. If you are not used to doing this, it can disrupt your rhythm. After about a 10 minute delay, they started to line us up for entry into the water. My bib number was 594, and so I was in the middle of the pack. The wait only added to the emotions that I was experiencing. After what seemed like forever (actually, I believe it was about 25 minutes) I hit the dock and hopped into the water, ready to begin my race. As I started out, I tried to get my rhythm going in regards to my stroke and my breathing. After about 50 meters I felt like saying “To hell with it all.” I could not seem to find my groove. So I rolled onto my back and did a backstroke for about 50 meters. This allowed my emotions to settle down and allowed me to get my thoughts in order.

I then rolled over and started a freestyle swim. Again, 50 meters into that swim, I had to roll over and catch my breath and thoughts. I was seriously thinking about heading back to the dock. But then I remembered one of the rules I had read in regards to training: “You've got to try. No matter what happens in the end, you'll have bigger regrets from not ever trying.” I then rolled back into a freestyle swim and started a slow and easy stroke. This allowed me to get comfortable and build my way up to my normal speed (which is still slow, but at least I was moving). Once I got my groove, the swim was actually very easy. At times I had to stop and get my bearings, but for the most part, when I rolled to take a breath, I used the swimmers around me as guides. The only issue I had was at about 1000 meters my goggles started to fog up, and this made sighting a bit more difficult. Remembering the swim tip we were given at the start of the race, I tried to swim as close to the buoys as possible.

Seems the current was a bit faster there, and I wanted to use every advantage I could get. I eventually got to the exit point and was feeling rather good about how I had done so far. Now I had to get ready to hit the hills on the bike route. The Bike ( Time: 1:28:29) As I mentioned earlier, this was my first event in which I was using cycling shoes and pedals. Before this, I had cage pedals on my bike and my shoes were my running shoes. This made for a faster transition, but at the same time I was not really fully utilizing my legs while I pedaled. I had purchased the Speedplay Zero series pedals and cleats based on a recommendation of a friend. I had spent about two weeks getting comfortable with them and decided that it was time to use them in the real world. As I ran the ramp from the boat dock to the transition area, I was feeling good about how I had done in the swim and looked forward to the bike ride of just over 25 miles. After crossing the mount line, I got on the bike but had a bit of trouble locking my cleats into my pedals.

I was able to pedal, but it took me about ½ mile before they were fully locked into place. Now doing 40k on a bike is not a problem for me. I ride my bike 2-3 times a week from home to work and it is a 13 mile ride, each way. I am not the fastest, but I feel comfortable with my time and speed. But I was not prepared for the hills on this course. Not that they were extreme or anything, but with the exception of about 1.5 miles in each direction, it was a constant up or down. I also realized about half way into the ride that I need to adjust my seat. During the ride I had found my “sweet spot” in regards to my riding position, but my seat was not properly set up for that position. Luckily, the heat had not started to arrive while I was doing most of the ride. In fact, on a couple of occasions during the ride, I thought we were going to have rain. It was a bit foggy once we crossed the river and went over the first hill. I had set a goal time for the bike portion, based on my normal cycling speed, and I was right on target.

Because of the hills on the course, I was starting to feel it in my quads, and this would come back to haunt me during the run. As I got to the dismount area, I had a bit of trouble unlocking the pedals. Definitely something I need to work on. When I got off the bike, I could feel the bricks kicking in. The Run (Time: 1:09:58) After changing out my cycling shoes for my running shoes and taking in some water and electrolyte tablets, I started what for me is normally my strongest area, the run. But today it was not to be. I could feel my quads screaming at me as I started my run. I knew that I was in the home stretch, and I could take it a bit easier, but at the same time I wanted to do at least nine minute miles. At mile one, I could feel a cramp developing so I slowed down to a jog and then had to do something I hate to do: I started walking. I would walk for about a minute then do a slow jog until the next mile marker, and then I would walk for another minute, and then jog to the next mile.

This was not how I had planned to do the run, but I had to listen to my body and I did not want to injure myself so close to the finish. Though I was not at my normal running pace, I did manage to build up enough strength to do a sprint the last two-tenths of a mile and cross the finish line. Just a few yards from the finish there were the members of the tri club I belong to cheering me on (“Woot! Woot!”). At that moment I felt an extra burst and headed to the finish line. I had completed my first Olympic distance tri!! I was tired and sore, but confident in what I had accomplished. After getting a beer to replenish my carbs, I had to get away from it all and let my emotions come out. (Yes men do cry, even at 50 years old. Luckily, sweat can hide most of the tears.) I had finished something that just three years ago I had never thought possible. Final Thoughts My final time was 3:25:59. I wanted to finish the event in less than 3:30, so in regards to my time, I am happy with what I achieved.

I can see what areas I need to work on and from there develop a training plan to become better and stronger. Will I be back next year for the event?? You bet!! Hopefully I will be a bit faster and stronger. My goal is to do my first half-Ironman in 2008. Gulf Coast Half Ironman, here I come!! Rating FAQ | ITU World Triathlon Series WHAT IS THE ITU WORLD TRIATHLON SERIES? Beginning in 2009 the ITU World Triathlon Series is a premier series which expanded the previous single World Championship event into a series of seven, first-class events and a Grand Final. With the support of top-tier partnerships and sponsorships the new series will allow for exponential growth in athlete prize money, TV coverage and sport exposure. The events take place in world-class cities, against iconic backdrops such as the Opera House in Sydney, Mission Beach in San Diego and Buckingham Palace in London. Throughout the series, top athletes will accumulate points as they compete head-to-head at each event. The series will culminate at the Grand Final where the year's top athletes will be recognised and awarded as the World Champion.

The series will follow the standard Olympic distance of: 1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run WHY DID YOU DEVELOP THIS SERIES? ITU has identified a significant opportunity to harness the energy and spirit from the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games into a high-profile international series which allows the world's top athletes to compete head-to-head throughout the year. This consistent level of competition not only allows for increased sport profile, but also pushes the athletes to a higher level of competition as the sport looks towards London 2012. It is our hope that by developing a series of this magnitude, opportunities for public sector funding will continue to open up, encouraging global cities to see the value in hosting ITU World Triathlon Series events. WHAT HAS ATHLETE REACTION BEEN TO THE NEW SERIES? Athlete response to the new series has been overwhelmingly positive. The athletes understand more than anyone the need to evolve the sport by bringing it to a mass audience. We are confident that each year, as an increasing number of athletes recognize the benefits, the series will continue to grow and accumulate a following, both on a competitor front and among spectators.

Quote from Emma Snowsill, 2008 Olympic Gold medalist and three-time ITU Triathlon World Champion: "For us, the athletes, this is phenomenal. It is a pretty amazing thing. The benefit of live TV is it creates a season. People will know when to watch and when to tune into triathlon. It is moving in the direction that everyone wants to see it". HOW CAN ATHLETES QUALIFY TO COMPETE IN THE SERIES? Similar to the current process, National Federations (NF) will enter athletes and the start list will based on the current athlete's ranking. Each NF will be given a maximum of six athletes with the host NF being given a maximum of eight spots. A maximum of 65 men and 65 women will make up the elite category with up to 75 men and 75 women in the Grand Final. With each ITU World Triathlon Series event there will be an open age group race. HOW ARE POINTS ACCUMULATED? Athletes will be able to use a combination of points from the Grand Final, ITU World Triathlon Series events and ITU Triathlon World Cups to build a final ranking.

They may use a total of four races (combination of World Series and World Cup races) plus the Grand Final to count towards their final ranking. Triathlon at the 2012 London Summer Games: Men's Olympic Distance | Olympics at Sports-Reference.com Triathlon at the 2012 London Summer Games: Men's Olympic Distance Host City: London, Great Britain Venue(s): Hyde Park, London Date Started: August 7, 2012 Date Finished: August 7, 2012 Gold: Jonny Brownlee Summary The favorite coming in to the London Olympics was the home-crowd hero, [Alistair Brownlee]. He was expected to be challenged by his brother, [Jonathan Brownlee], with the locals hoping for gold and silver. The Brits would be disappointed but only just so. Another challenger was two-time World Champion [Javier Gómez] of Spain. [Richard Varga] (SVK) led the pack out of the water, and on the first of seven bike laps, a pack of seven formed, including the Brownlees and Gómez.

On the third bike lap, 15 riders caught the leaders, forming a lead pack of 22, which included the defending champion [Jan Frodeno] (GER) and pre-race contenders [Aleksandr Bryukhankov] (RUS) and [Sven Riederer] (SUI). The 22-man lead group stayed together until near the final transition, with the Brownlees, Gómez, and [Vincent Luis] (FRA) forming the lead group on the run. Luis was quickly dropped, and at the end of three of four laps, Jonathan Brownlee was informed he was being penalized for an early exchange onto his bike after the swim and had to serve 15 seconds in the penalty box. This left Alistair Brownlee and Gómez to fight it out for gold. Alistair opened up a gap on Gómez at the beginning of the final lap, and pulled away to win comfortably by 11 seconds. Gómez won silver and Jonathan Brownlee held on for the bronze.

The quality of the race was shown by all three medalists and fourth-placed [David Hauss] (FRA) covering the 10 km run in under 30 minutes. A Sports Reference Site : About SR/Olympics | Privacy Statement | Conditions & Terms of Service | Use of Data Data provided by OlyMADMen , led by Hilary Evans, Arild Gjerde, Jeroen Heijmans, and Bill Mallon. Members: David Foster, Martin Frank, Jørn Jensen, Carl-Johan Johansson, Taavi Kalju, Martin Kellner, George Masin, Stein Opdahl, Wolf Reinhardt, Ralf Regnitter, Paul Tchir, Magne Teigen, Christian Tugnoli, Morten Aarlia Torp, and Ralf Schlüter. Sports Reference LLC and are not sponsored by or affiliated with the Olympics, the United States Olympic Committee or the International Olympic Committee. Trademarks featured or referred to on this website are the property of their respective trademark holders and not Sports Reference LLC or . Part of the

Question: What is the length, in kilometres, of the run which is the final part of the Olympic triathlon?
Answer: 10